HMRC Charities - Charity Accounts
Self Assessment: changes to accounts procedures for charities
Do all charities receive returns annually?
No. Under the Self-Assessment regime formal return requests will be issued to a sample of charities each year. The type of return required will be specified in the notice issued to those charities concerned. This will depend on whether the Charity is a trust or company for tax purposes.
Please note: Even if a charity does not receive a request to complete a Self Assessment return, the onus remains with the charity to notify chargeability to tax where all or part of its income and gains are not exempt from tax.
Do charities have to self assess?
Yes. Those charities which receive returns are required to self assess. The charity's accounts must be submitted in support of the return made.
Both the Trust and Company Self Assessment returns have special charity pages, which must be completed. The separate charity pages to forms CT600 (Company Self Assessment Return) and SA900 (Trust Self Assessment Return) are available from the telephone request lines accompanying the returns.
What is the purpose of the separate charity pages?
The charity pages are used to return income and gains of the charity on which it claims exemption from tax. These pages must be completed for the charity to obtain the exemptions available to it for the period covered by the return.
The charity pages also request information to show that the expenditure of the charity has been charitable and that any investments or loans made are qualifying under the Taxes Acts.
Is there help available in completing the returns?
Yes. There are notes to help completion of the returns including the charity pages. But, if there are specific problems in completing the charity pages help should be sought from HMRC Charities helpline on 08453 02 02 03
A charity receiving a request for a return should consider contacting its professional advisers for assistance in completing it, particularly if amounts need to be extracted from the accounts or a liability to tax assessed.
How can I find out more?
- You can e-mail us at:
or
- Contact the HMRC charities help line on 08453 02 02 03, or
- Write to us at the following address
HMRC Charities
St Johns House
Merton Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L69 9BB
